USMNT’s Christian Pulisic identifies key trait to become world-class: Thierry Henry reacts to Milan star’s honest admission with five-word advice
Christian Pulisic has been a standout performer for Milan since his arrival from Chelsea in the summer of 2023. In just 88 appearances across all competitions, he has already amassed 30 goals and 20 assists, proving to be a pivotal figure in the Rossoneri’s attack. His ability to score crucial goals—such as against Liverpool and in two Derby della Madonnina against Inter—has cemented his status as one of the best players in Serie A in recent times.
Despite his success, the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) star recently revealed what he believes is the key trait he is missing to reach the very top of the soccer world. His comments caught the attention of soccer legend Thierry Henry, who responded with a simple yet powerful five-word piece of advice.
Pulisic’s remarkable performances for the Rossoneri have led to a contract renewal, set to be signed in the coming weeks, despite reported interest from Premier League sides. His growth as a player is evident, but in an excerpt from a Paramount+ docuseries, the 26-year-old admitted that he still lacks something crucial to become one of the world’s best truly.
“I’m playing at a high level now, with some of the best in the world, but I feel like to get to that level and stay there you have to have a certain level of confidence,” he said. Then, the American identified the missing piece: “Sometimes I feel like I’m missing that. I don’t know, I don’t have that constant, cocky confidence that some of the best have. This is the next step to get to the top.”
How did Thierry Henry respond?
Pulisic’s candid admission became a talking point on CBS Sports during the pre-match show for the Panama clash in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals. When asked whether he was surprised by Pulisic’s statement, Thierry Henry, an icon and World Cup winner, responded thoughtfully. “No, I’m not surprised. It’s good that he’s aware of it. This means he can change. All the greats had a behavior that made you understand where they were at.”
Then, the former Arsenal and France star revealed the five words that he has always lived by—”What you have to do is, play with your chest out.” For the 47-year-old confidence isn’t just about believing in oneself, but also about showing that belief on the pitch. His next advice to the winger was clear: “You have to let people know. He is now showing on the pitch that he is at that level.”
Pulisic’s comments came just before the three-time reigning champions suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Panama. Despite boasting stars like Weston McKennie and Josh Sargent, the Stars and Stripes struggled to create clear-cut chances, leaving Mauricio Pochettino’s side frustrated. Next up for the USMNT is a high-stakes match against Canada in Sunday’s third-place match in California.